UAE reports low skin cancer rate, but sun-exposed skin diseases could rise warns expert

Despite being in one of the world’s most sun-exposed regions, the UAE is reporting a remarkably low incidence of skin cancer, according to one of Europe’s leading dermato-oncologists.

Yet Dr Claas Ulrich, who heads the skin cancer centre at Berlin’s Charité University Hospital, one of Germany’s most research-intensive medical institutions, says the longer life spans of UAE nationals and changing dress patterns will increase the proportion of sun exposure related skin diseases, paralleling trends in other parts of the globe. Added to that the Emirates’ high number of expatriates, prone to sunbathing, could increase the incidence.

Dr Ulrich recently addressing a gathering of UAE-based medical practitioners and dermatological specialists across Dubai and Abu Dhabi in lectures organised by the Swiss global leading dermatology company Galderma, the medical solutions company of Nestlé Skin Health, which has just launched its Daylong sunscreen range in the Emirates.

“The fact is nationals in the UAE are living longer thanks largely to major strides in the healthcare sector,” explained Dr Ulrich. “While most of the people over 60, particularly women, have largely been protected from ultraviolet radiation – the main cause of skin cancer - thanks to conservative clothing, reports show their most exposed areas, the face and hands and even feet are vulnerable. Our data shows that long-term exposure to the sun in one of the world’s sunniest climates has led to increased susceptibility among this age group.”

Currently UAE nationals have an average life expectancy of 77 – one of the highest in the Arab world. Dr Ulrich points out, however, that the UAE’s incidence of sun cancer – which is one of the world’s most common accounting for one in every three cancers diagnosed globally – is likely to be influenced by the country’s large number of expatriate residents which makes up around 90 per cent of the overall population.

“Sunbathing here is a popular pastime particularly among the Western expatriates who by and large have the fair skin that is most vulnerable.”